I admit that I didn't read LoTR until I saw previews for the Fellowship. And then I was put off by the prologue, Concerning Hobbits, and put the book aside for a week. But I decided to give it another go, but skipped to Ch. 1, A Long-Expected Party, and immediately fell in love! (Bilbo's ironic gift giving...so funny!) There were places that I scanned on the first reading, but some of those parts are now some of my favorites. After reading the whole story and getting more of a feel for who is who, the Council of Elrond, for example, becomes fascinating .

Favorite Tolkien character:

Frodo because, "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." A very inspiring character.
Aragorn because he is so yin-yang. He's a valliant fighter, but also caring and nurturing. He's extremely self-confident, but also full of self-doubt. He's proud, but humble; bold, but careful and diplomatic.
Galadrial because she is so wise. And let's face it, she's just plain cool:)